KKRTC bus conductor who dropped off elderly couple midway suspended

A conductor of the Kalyana Karnataka Road Transport Corporation (KKRTC), who had allegedly made an elderly couple deboard the bus in the middle of their journey near Gundlur village in Wadagera taluk of the district, resulting in widespread backlash after the video clip of the couple struggling to walk in an isolated area went viral, has been suspended.

70-year-old Sangamesh and wife Annapurna, 60, natives of Kalaburgi city, boarded the bus at Yadgir bus stand on February 9 to visit Sangameshwar temple located at Sangam village.

However, the conductor allegedly dropped them off at Gundlur, citing that the bus could not go to Sangam only for two passengers.

“Even after repeated requests made by us and the co-passengers, the conductor declined to take us till Sangam village and deboarded us from the bus,” Ms. Annapurna told The Hindu over the phone.

“Having no other option, we walked for two km, and while nearing Sangam, a biker, to whom we explained the situation, took us to the village,” she said.

A passer-by filmed the couple walking while carrying bags and circulated it on social media. Following it, the public demanded action against the conductor.

The corporation has now taken up the issue and ordered an inquiry. Speaking to The Hindu over the phone from Bengaluru, Minister for Transport Ramlinga Reddy said that he had instructed the Managing Director of KKRTC at Kalaburagi to suspend the conductor for violating the rules and also dropping off the elderly midway.

In a subsequent development, Divisional Controller and Disciplinary Officer Manjunath placed Chandappa, driver-cum-conductor of the Yadgir depot of the KKRTC, under suspension.